Reinforcements coming soon for injury-gutted Seattle Seahawks

Despite their NFC-best 8-1 record, the Seattle Seahawks have struggled all season to overcome injuries at some of the team’s most important positions. Finally, it looks like those struggles could be over within the next few weeks.

Russell Okung. (Getty Images)

Pro Bowl left tackle Russell Okung, who has been sidelined since partway through the 49ers victory on Sept. 15, has recovered enough from his foot injury that he started practicing with the team on Friday. He will continue practicing this week, though he is ineligible to return from the short-term injured reserve until Seattle’s Week 11 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 17 at CenturyLink Field.

Right tackle Breno Giacomini suffered a knee injury during the Seahawks’ win over Jacksonville on Sept. 22, and his initial two-to-four-week recovery time has dragged on much longer than that. Giacomini underwent surgery to remove some “loose bodies” from his knee Sept. 30, and had fluids drained in a subsequent procedure. Yet he is also slated to begin practice this week.

“Breno will practice with us,” head coach Pete Carroll said in his Monday press conference. “And we’ll see how he does and what he can do. But that will kind of be determined, again, by what happens (Tuesday). But we plan on him being out there practicing. Russell (Okung) as well — that’s the plan. We know that Russell has a longer timeframe before he can return, so we just have a bigger window in there. But we’ll find out.

“As far as playing this week, Russell is not eligible to play this week, but Breno is, and we’ll just see. But it’s not likely that he’ll be ready to get back; it’s a lot to ask of him in one week’s time on the practice field. So, we’d like to take a couple weeks, get him back, really get him solid, get his legs under him, and see where he is. And, like all along, we’ve been really trying to be kind of cautious, in a sense, to make sure that we don’t hurry things up too much.”

Since their two starting tackles went down, the Seahawks have had to plug the holes on the offensive line with inexperienced and underperforming lineman.

Left guard Paul McQuistan has started at left tackle since Okung’s injury, and former first-round pick James Carpenter slid up the depth chart into McQuistan’s old spot. On the right side, rookie Michael Bowie was the “next man up” at right tackle, and sophomore J.R. Sweezy has continued to struggle at right guard after transitioning from the defensive line in college.

Breno Giacomini participates in warmups before Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers at CenturyLink Field. (Elaine Thompson/AP Photo)

What’s more, the Seahawks were without All-Pro center Max Unger for their games in Houston and Indianapolis due to a triceps injury. Backup Lemuel Jeanpierre stepped up, but with little congruency on the offensive line, Unger’s absence — both in skill and in leadership — was pronounced as Seattle split the road trip (an overtime win in Houston and a six-point loss in Indy).

Tight end Zach Miller had hamstring issues in Weeks 5 and 6, further hampering an offensive line that was already giving quarterback Russell Wilson little time to throw and running back Marshawn Lynch little room to run. Seattle relied on rookie tight end Luke Willson and signed third-stringer Kellen Davis, both of whom have performed decently but not to the level of Seattle’s former-Pro Bowl starter, Miller.

While the patchwork O-line has appeared to improve in the running game, with the exception of Seattle’s 44-yard rushing performance Oct. 28 in St. Louis, pass-blocking has remained an issue even with Unger and Miller back for the past three weeks. Though Wilson finished this past Sunday’s overtime victory against the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 217 passing yards, Seattle’s backup tackles stumbled through the Monday-night matchup with the Rams’ dangerous defensive ends, Chris Long and Robert Quinn, who combined for six of St. Louis’ seven sacks on Wilson.

Now, things may be even worse for the Seahawks heading into this coming Sunday’s road contest in Atlanta. After a scare in the second quarter Sunday when Bowie went down holding his knee (he returned to the field not long afterward), Unger exited the Bucs game in the fourth quarter with a concussion. The center is now day-to-day as the Hawks monitor his recovery, and the coaches are preparing to start Jeanpierre against the Falcons.

Seattle also is preparing to play without defensive end Red Bryant, who suffered a concussion of his own in the third quarter Sunday against the Buccaneers.

Red Bryant. (Getty Images)

“We have to get Lem (Jeanpierre) ready to play, and that’s how we have to think about it,” Carroll said. “We have to think that Red might be out — because we won’t know until Thursday, likely. It might be all the way to Friday.

“So we have to plan like those guys aren’t going to be there, and if they can pop back in and they can do it, then we’ll (play them). And we’ll get indications of how well they do (Tuesday), because they get tested every day, and we’ll have a sense for it.”

Bryant is regarded as the Seahawks’ best defender against the run, but like most of Seattle’s D he delivered one of his worst performances of the year Sunday. The Hawks wanted to bounce back from allowing Rams rookie back Zac Stacy to rush for 134 yards on Oct. 28, but gave up 158 to Tampa’s own rookie running back, Mike James, this past Sunday.

“We’re just off a little bit, and we have not fixed it in these two weeks,” Carroll said of Seattle’s run defense. “Obviously with that many yards being run, we gotta keep working hard at it. It’s a big dedicated effort, because we don’t want to go that way.

“So we’ve got work to do. We’re a work in progress; it’s not a completed piece of furniture yet. We’ve got a lot of work to do — build it up.”

Finally, there’s the question of wide receiver Percy Harvin, who has yet to make his Seahawks debut after undergoing hip surgery on Aug. 1. The dynamic but injury-prone wideout started practicing with his new team two weeks ago, but his limited regimen is still all the Hawks have seen of Harvin since they acquired him in a blockbuster offseason trade with the Minnesota Vikings.

Under NFL rules, Seattle has one more week to decide whether to activate Harvin from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. While the Hawks could certainly use him as soon as possible, particularly after receiver Sidney Rice’s season-ending ACL tear, it does not seem Harvin will be ready for Sunday’s game in Atlanta.

“We’ll see. We’re still working to bring him on back. I know he had a good rehab (Monday). So we’ll see how he does (Tuesday),” Carroll said. Asked whether Harvin can play against the Falcons, Carroll added: “I don’t know that. I’m not counting on that.”

But one thing is for sure, Carroll said: One of these days — and sometime fairly soon — the Seahawks will have Okung, Giacomini and Harvin all back on the field.

“We’re fine about it — it is what it is — and we gotta continue to develop their rehab and see if they can come out of it,” Carroll said. “It’s gonna happen. It’s gonna happen, it’s just we’re not quite sure when yet.”

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) talks with head coach Pete Carroll, left, after NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) talks with head coach Pete Carroll, left, after NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin, center, talks to reporters after NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin, center, talks to reporters after NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin talks to reporters after NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin talks to reporters after NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) smiles as he waits to talk to reporters after NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) smiles as he waits to talk to reporters after NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) walks with quarterback Russell Wilson at the end of NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) walks with quarterback Russell Wilson at the end of NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) returns the ball to Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) as they take part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) returns the ball to Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) as they take part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin stretches as he takes part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin stretches as he takes part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) catches a pass from backup quarterback B.J. Daniels during NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) catches a pass from backup quarterback B.J. Daniels during NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) stretches with teammates as wide receivers coach Kippy Brown looks on at left, at the start of NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin makes a catch as he takes part in NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin makes a catch as he takes part in NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin makes a catch as he takes part in NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin makes a catch as he takes part in NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin looks for a pass as he takes part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin looks for a pass as he takes part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin makes a catch as he takes part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin makes a catch as he takes part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin, left, stretches next to wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, right, at the start of an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin, left, stretches next to wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, right, at the start of an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin makes a catch as he takes part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin makes a catch as he takes part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin makes a catch as he takes part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin makes a catch as he takes part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin runs a route as he takes part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin runs a route as he takes part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) catches a pass from Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) as they take part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was Harvin's first full team practice since he injured his hip during the off-season. less

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (11) catches a pass from Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) as they take part in an NFL football practice, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013, in Renton, Wash. It was ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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Reinforcements coming soon for injury-gutted Seattle Seahawks

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